THE NEW Chairman of the Military Pensions Board (MPB), Maj.-Gen. Julius Osifo, has warned that delays in paying death benefits to families of soldiers killed in action could undermine troop morale and diminish the sacrifices of fallen military personnel.
Osifo gave the warning on Wednesday in Abuja during the handing and taking-over ceremony between him and his predecessor, AVM Mikail Abdulraheem, at the MPB headquarters.
He pledged to eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks, deploy modern technology and accelerate the payment of pensions, gratuities and death benefits to retired and discharged military personnel and next-of-kin (NOK) of deceased service members.
The chairman said inefficient administration resulting in delayed payments to families of personnel killed in action could diminish the sacrifices of troops and weaken the fighting spirit of those still engaged in combat operations.
“From my personal experience in OPHK, I can tell you outright that inefficient administration leading to default in payments of benefits to NOK of kill-in-action (KIA) personnel not only diminishes the sacrifices of our gallant soldiers, dishonours the memory of those killed in action and demoralises the fighting spirit of those in combat,” he said.
Osifo, who drew from his operational experience in Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) in the North-East, said the military’s responsibility to its personnel extended beyond active service to ensuring that their families were adequately catered for after their death.
He added that personnel who retired or were discharged after meritorious service also deserved prompt payment of their entitlements.
According to him, the country’s security challenges, including insurgency in the North-East, banditry in the North-West and North-Central, separatist violence in the South-East, and militancy and oil theft in the South-South, have increased the deployment of troops on operational duties.
He said the sacrifices of personnel confronting these threats must be matched by an efficient pension administration system that guaranteed timely payment of entitlements to veterans and families of fallen heroes.
Osifo said his administration would prioritise prompt processing and payment of benefits while ensuring that only legitimate beneficiaries received the entitlements due to them.
“My mission statement will be anchored on leading a board that will prioritise all ways and means to ensure payments are prompt, accessed with seamless ease, less cumbersome, less bureaucratic, but with an overriding commitment to ensuring only the rightful recipients get their due entitlements.
“To achieve this, the board will embrace modern technology, strengthen collaboration with the military services to proactively identify beneficiaries and accelerate the processing of pensions, gratuities and death benefits,” he said.
The chairman also pledged to strengthen engagement with the Defence Headquarters, service headquarters, Ministry of Defence, relevant National Assembly committees, Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and Ministry of Finance to improve coordination and facilitate payments.
He said the welfare and professional development of the board’s military and civilian personnel would also receive attention.
He stressed that a well-trained and motivated workforce was essential to delivering efficient services to military pensioners and their beneficiaries.
Osifo pledged to uphold high ethical and professional standards, strengthen training and ensure fairness in the treatment of personnel.
“The challenge to reposition the Board is a collective responsibility. In view of this, I implore all officers, servicemen and women and civilian staff to brace up for the enormous task ahead.
“All hands must be on deck for the actualisation of my vision,” he said.
Osifo thanked the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, for his appointment and acknowledged the roles of the Chief of Defence Staff and the Minister of Defence in approving his nomination.
He also commended his predecessors for laying the foundation for the board’s development, particularly Abdulraheem, his immediate predecessor and coursemate, for his service.
He pledged to build on previous achievements and reposition the board to provide prompt and efficient financial services to military retirees and families of deceased personnel.
Earlier, the immediate past chairman, AVM Abdulraheem urged the board’s personnel to sustain teamwork, discipline and innovation to improve the welfare of military pensioners and their next-of-kin.
He said the board’s mandate transcended individual leadership, stressing that its success depended on the collective commitment of personnel to the welfare of retired service members and their beneficiaries.
“As I hand over leadership today, I urge you all to extend the same cooperation, respect and commitment to my course mate.
“Give him your support, share your ideas freely, and continue to work as one team,” he said.
“The mandate of this Board is bigger than any individual and its success depends on our ability to remain united and focused on the welfare of our military pensioners and their Next-of-Kin,” he said.
Abdulraheem thanked the officers, soldiers and civilian staff for their cooperation, dedication and support during his tenure.
He attributed the achievements recorded under his leadership to their collective efforts, professionalism and commitment to common goals. (NAN)
